The game in 100 words (or less): Unlike that of Kekuta Manneh, Krisztian Nemeth’s return to his former home was far from ceremonious, as the New England Revolution attacker (and former Sporting Kansas City man) was sent off after just 11 minutes, with his new outfit 1-0 ahead on a goal scored by Teal Bunbury, another former Sporting KC striker. The Hungarian’s early dismissal paved the way for a ferocious comeback which puts Sporting within a point of the Western Conference’s top spot, and generates a bit of momentum ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final agains the New York Red Bulls, right back here at Children’s Mercy Park. Gerso Fernandes pulled SKC level in the 16th minute, just five minutes after Nemeth saw red, and the Bissau-Guinean set up Diego Rubio for what turned out to be the game-winning goal just before halftime. The Chilean striker, and Dom Dwyer’s replacement following his trade in July, grabbed a second goal 12 minutes into the second half, as Peter Vermes’ side pick just its fifth win in 14 games, though it should be noted they’ve lost just twice during that period.

45′ — Rubio slides in at the back post for 2-1 — Graham Zusi, who’s #actually a fine right back in the right system, carries the ball roughly 50 yards here, before sliding it wide to Fernandes, who plays it across goal for Rubio to poke it home.

The game in 100 words (or less): Jay Heaps and the New England Revolution threw away two wonderful plays from Diego Fagundez, and perhaps their playoffs hopes in the process. New England is now eight points back of the sixth spot in the East, while New York stays within shouting distance of the Top Six. Coach Jesse Marsch is now the winningest coach in RBNY history, while Heaps days of adding to his total as Revs boss may be dwindling down to zero.

(Some of) The goals

21′ — Pretty build-up, gutsy finish — The first example of Fagundez’s fantastic playmaking was met by Teal Bunbury’s fearless finish. It’s a shame few fans will be thinking about it following the match.

90′ — Veron gets on the board — Not a banner moment for keeper positioning, but the Argentine from San Lorenzo has his first of the season to just drive a sledgehammer into New England’s collective gut.

Kei Kamara, whom the Revolution acquired not long before they began this year’s Open Cup campaign, Je-Vaughn Watson and Teal Bunbury scored the goals to put Jay Heaps’ side into next month’s final for the first time since 2007, in which they’ll face either FC Dallas or the LA Galaxy (second semifinal to be played Wednesday night).

The Revs struck first, from the penalty spot, after Rodrigo Ramos tripped Kelyn Rowe on the corner of the penalty area in the 15th minute. Kamara converted the ensuing spot-kick for a 1-0 lead.

Chicago pulled level on a busted play along the Revs’ backline in the 40th minute. Michael de Leeuw poked the ball past a pair of defenders for David Accam, who was suddenly in all kinds of space near the penalty spot. The Ghanaian, one of Chicago’s few true bright spots this season, cut inside and slotted the ball past Brad Knighton to make it 1-1.

That scoreline lasted less than 90 seconds, though, as Watson headed home a bouncing ball in the face of goal. Chris Tierney whipped in the initial free kick, and Kamara headed the ball goal-bound only to see it denied three yards off the line. Matt Lamspon went to ground on Kamara’s header, leaving a simple finish for Watson.

Drawn the fourth-ranked team in terms of priority to host the Sept. 21 final, the Revs will go for their first major trophy since 2007 away from home, no matter who advances from Wednesday’s semifinal.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Revolution and LA Galaxy clashed in ugly weather conditions, but that didn’t stop the first-half of play from showing two of Major League Soccer’s best teams brandishing numerous quality attacks.

Four goals in total were netted in the first 45 minutes, as New England nabbed the first on Teal Bunbury’s close-range effort in the fifth minute, followed by a surge from the LA Galaxy that included scores from two young guns–forward Gyasi Zardes and Ignacio Magnato.

Then, the Revs own youngster, 20-year-old Diego Fagundez, put the two sides on equal terms with his sharp free-kick conversion.

All of this happened in what felt like rapid succession, and the remainder of this 2014 MLS Cup rematch wouldn’t display such frantic maneuvering.

Unfortunately for the Revolution, they couldn’t keep pushing for the final goal, and the sudden lack of forwardness antagonized head coach Jay Heaps.

He was not happy with the sedate cadence of the match, which, Heaps believes, the officials facilitated.

“I thought our urgency was – should have been better in the second half and we created a lot of chances, but I thought that the referee wasn’t letting us play the game,” he said. “It really felt like there was a lot of delays in the game and unfortunately our tempo needs to be played quickly.

“I’m disappointed as you can tell because I thought our game plan was really good and we came out an executed for the first 12 minutes of that game, and if we continued to do that for another 30 or 40 minutes, you’d see a big smile on my face right now. But we didn’t and that’s why I’m so frustrated right now.”

Galaxy manger Bruce Area uttered a somewhat divergent sentiment, glad to have another positive end product, one without reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane.

“This game tonight was hectic, crazy, out of control, not an easy game,” he admitted.

“I give our guys credit. Going down a goal in the early minutes and being able to get a point out of it against a good team, it’s a good result, a good week for us with two wins and a draw.”

The Revolution will travel to Portland to experience the Timbers on Saturday. Arena’s side return home to duel the Vancouver Whitecaps that same day.

One game in 100 words: The action-packed first half was no model for the future. Both teams begun an offensive onslaught that had the score tied, 2-2, at the halftime whistle. The pace slowed later on in the drenched, rainy conditions at Gillette Stadium. Although the Galaxy were without Irish international Robbie Keane supplying first-rate experience and quality up front, the goals were present to offer a winnable game for LA, with rookie Ignacio Maganto stepping up and Zardes applying the opportunistic striker’s touch. New England were missing vital players–Lee Nguyen, Chris Tierney and Jermaine Jones (left this game injured)–but in the end still find themselves slotted at second place in the Eastern Conference. LA stands at fifth place in the West.

Goals

New England: Teal Bunbury 5′, Diego Fagundez 37′

Los Angeles: Ignacio Maganto 18′ ,Gyasi Zardes 27′

Three moments that mattered

5’ — Bunbury ready at the back post — Recent USMNT call-up Juan Agudelo drilled a spinning through ball to midfielder Scott Caldwell on the left side of the box, and he consequently knocked a pass to the opposite post as Teal Bunbury rushed to meet it with his right foot. LA goalie Jamie Penedo dove hard to the ground, but Bunbury elevated his shot just enough for the goal. The Revs were off and running.

27’ — Zardes pulls Galaxy ahead — Ignacio Maganto, haven pinpointed a lobbed pass to Jose Villarreal, his back to the goal, and the Galaxy youth product flicked a exceptional back heel to Gyasi Zardes running into the box on goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth’s right. Kevin Alston slid to the turf aiming to block the impeding attempt, but Zardes hit it at the perfect time to beat Shuttleworth in the lower corner.

37’ — Fagundez levels it — The Revolution had confidence in their homegrown star to confidently rifle in this one, and Diego Fagundez met these expectations wonderfully. Off a set piece located on the outskirts of the penalty area, the Massachusetts native struck a curving try that bent downward and into the back of the net. Penedo’s side-to-side run wasn’t quick enough and the Galaxy had relinquished their advantage already.